Girard: Local History, Lakes and Summer Concerts

In Girard, different ways to explore local history meet recreational activities at the Girard Lakes and a summer concert program. The Barnhisel House & Museum introduces visitors to a ten-room house dating to around 1840; at Little Squaw Creek, Liberty Park commemorates the men who served in World War I. Those planning a stay can discover Girard through specific places and events rather than a single vacation theme.

A House with a History

The Barnhisel House & Museum is a historic Greek Revival house dating to around 1840. The Girard Historical Society restored it. With its ten rooms, the building offers a well-defined glimpse into the history of the house; its architecture and current use as a museum give a visit a cultural focus.

A tour includes the South Parlor. There, the display features mementos and photographs from the past and present. Visitors especially interested in the personal traces of local history will find a different perspective here than in viewing the house as a building. The tour brings both together in the same room, without requiring a long list of individual exhibits.

Recreation at the Girard Lakes

The Lower and Upper Girard Lakes offer a reason to include waterfront recreation in your travel plans. A daily or seasonal permit is required for fishing. If you plan to fish, take this requirement into account when planning and consider which permit suits the length of your stay.

City regulations govern recreational use of the two lakes. This is relevant even if fishing is not the sole purpose of your stay: use of the lakes is subject to city rules. This lets you choose the focus of your day—visiting the museum, enjoying recreation by the water or taking in an evening program—according to your interests.

Remembrance and Local History

Liberty Park was built in the Art Deco style at Little Squaw Creek as a memorial to the men who served in World War I. The site combines a distinctive architectural design with a clearly defined historical purpose. For travelers interested in remembrance, it complements the history of the Barnhisel House with a different perspective on Girard’s past.

Avon Oaks is also part of the town’s history: the amusement park opened in 1896 near the intersection of North State Street and Squaw Creek. Its grand ballroom is now the Avon Oaks Ballroom. These two details tell the story of the former entertainment venue and how the ballroom’s name lives on in Girard.

Summer Events and Arcade

The Tod Park Summer Concert Series runs from June through August. Concerts take place from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. If you want to include a concert in your stay, you can factor these evening times into your daily plans and check whether they fit your travel dates.

Past Times Arcade in Girard, Ohio, offers another kind of recreation. The arcade opened to the public on June 1, 2023, and offers 600 games. Girard therefore offers options for a range of interests: historic houses and memorials, fishing at the lakes, summer concerts and a wide selection of games.

Choosing Girard as a Place to Stay

When looking for a vacation rental or holiday home in Girard, your reason for traveling can help narrow down the options: if local history is a priority, the Barnhisel House is a specific place to start; for a summer stay, you can also take the concert schedule into account. If you plan to fish, remember that a daily or seasonal permit is required.

You can also visit these other local pages: Howland Center, Hubbard, Newton Falls, Mineral Ridge, Churchill and Warren.

For the broader travel overview: Trumbull County.